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    Île Flottante

    4.5 (142 reviews)
    PriceyFrench
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    Île Flottante Photos

    ÎLE FLOTTANTE ATMOSPHERE

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    Moderate noise
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    Romantic
    Classy

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    The front window
    Catherine R.

    Prepare to drop some money here! We did the pre-planned tasting menu combined with wine pairings. The experience was total gourmet. Definitely for foodies. Each course was delivered with an artful story and explanation of its components. Made every course extra special. Ambiance is cool, like an indie film.

    2-halibut 3 ways, pan seared, in red pepper, halibut mouse, broccoli cup under flower
    Jas S.

    TL;DR - if you can score the reservation go! Food creativity is what sets Île Flottante apart. Service is really good, but things slowed down after the savory courses. Ambiance and location might not be bougee enough, but it's not $200pp either. Did not do the wine pairing at $70, but thought the wines by the glass at $15 each fit the bill without breaking the bank. They are doing their 'Spring Menu', my fav was the sunchoke which is their take on poutine, mushrooms, and truffle. The miss (for me) was the platte cleansing course of toasted coconut ice cream with asparagus and strawberries. While I could nitpick about textures, acid, and salt, overall we're in Michelin star territory here. Best value for composed multi-course / pre-fixe in Montreal!

    Angela A.

    Visited Ile flotante for my birthday and I was very disappointed. I was excited to try their 6 course menu as I have seen great reviews about it. The first course seafood soup with their homemade bread was DELICIOUS, I was in love on how good it was and set the bar really high for the other courses. Sadly it went downhill after that, the mushroom dumplings had almost no flavour at all, the rice/mayo/chicken/egg dish was too creamy and no special flavour at all I got tired of eating after 2 spoons, the duck was very heavy mostly after having a very heavy dish before and last the beef was another heavy plate and nothing in-between to cleanse the palate. The dessert was average, yes very well presented but a very simple vanilla cake that could almost taste like the costco one. The place itself is beautiful, however it took 50min wait to get our dessert, I don't think they have the staff to have so many tables. We weren't the only table waiting for that long for a dessert. The table beside us arrived an hour and a half after us and they finished their 5 course and were waiting at the same time for dessert than us. It took us 3 hours and half for the whole thing. We did not even had that many drinks that kept us there at one point we had nothing else to talk about ut was awkward, we were literally waiting on our phones. Kudos for the staff that kept their smiles and trying to make it all up but honestly not worth it at all.

    Mary H.

    Went there for my bday dinner with a friend of mine. Reservation was at 10pm so quite late and I had smacked before going to was a bit full by dessert time. Nevertheless, food was amazing! I had been previously when it was called Trois Singes de Montavie and it was equally delicious (except cheaper). The dishes are small but still quite filling by the end of dinner. I must say that the homemade oatmeal bread was my favourite...a hint sweet, soft and warm. Still drooling thinking about it. The restaurant uses seasonal ingredients which is nice and fresh. There was a fish made with cucumber that I also enjoyed very much considering the fact that I am not a fan of cucumbers. Must say that the service was also great. My napping was folded for me every time I came back from the bathroom. They probably don't do it as often during the earlier services since there must be a lot more people but thought it was attentive from the staff. Wine pairing was also very affordable compared to other restaurants with tasting menu offerings. Wine pairing was $60 vs $80+ at other restaurants so definitely a must! Thé plates are beautifully decorated. They looked as good as they tasted! I would definitely go back!

    The sweetest little salad with lobster buried underneath it
    Kate B.

    Saw this restaurant on an Eater list and decided to give it a try. SO glad we did, because it was honestly the best meal I've ever eaten. The chefs tasting menu had seven amazing courses, each one filled with flavor and seasonal ingredients. As with most tasting menus, I would recommend that you're not a picky eater if you opt to eat here. That being said, they can accommodate certain dietary restrictions here for you. I understand the menu changes with the seasons, and it makes me wish I lived closer so I could try it each time. We had flounder ceviche served in hollowed out kohlrabi, an amazing veggie/seafood take on Italian wedding soup, a little salad with fresh lobster meat in it, an incredible mushroom dish, a giant artichoke ravioli, a "pre-dessert" palate cleanser with lemon, yogurt, cuke & Thai basil (I know it sounds like a weird mixture, but it was so so tasty), and the chef's take on blueberry pancakes with ice cream. All of it very veggie forward, but not lacking one bit of flavor - each dish was bursting with color and exquisite taste. They also had three flavored cocktail specials, two of which we tried: strawberry/celery (which was perfectly smoked and flavors were balanced so well), cucumber, and jalapeño. Service was outstanding - they pace it just right and each server is knowledgeable (in both English and French) on the dish being placed in front of you. A quiet restaurant in a cute Montreal neighborhood, I would wholeheartedly recommend this place to anyone who enjoys a food experience.

    4. salad of lobster bos lettuce and tomato and avocado
    Andrew L.

    Do wish I could've recorded the wait staff's detailed description of each dish--since the words themselves are inviting and delicious. We decided to get a bottle instead of the wine pairing just to make things simple. Each dish was marvelous. You won't come out disgustingly full and I read people's complaint about the lack of protein. This is not a hamburger or steak joint, go elsewhere for that and give the planet a break. The restaurant very simply allow one to see how we can eat differently w/o so much MEAT and still be able to experience a transcendent meal. The neighborhood is still a lively real community of residents and small businesses. Definitely worth a try. There were complaints about the wine list. While it's highlighting particular places that are outside of the traditionally well known wine regions, this hopefully allow the restaurant to retain a lower accessible wine price range. The bottle we got was not marked up in the usual 3x the price but only 2x. I appreciate that effort. Service was impeccable and food terrific. 7 course tasting menu around $100 per person

    First course vegetable broth over a variety of spring veggies and herbs. Warming and savory.
    Suzanne T.

    Spectacular food!! Beyond!! Tasting menu on par with The French Laundry and Lazy Bear. The setting is unassuming but don't let that fool you - the dishes are next level! Each member of the staff was knowledgeable and very present. We added the wine pairing and the sommelier would describe each wine in detail - top notch. The restaurant offers both vegetarian and vegan options - which is so welcome and appreciated. I had vegan and my dinner partner had the regular menu. Each and every single course was delicious, inventive, surprising and unique. Thank you Chef Sean and your wonderful team. Simply a must visit when in Montreal. Do not miss.

    Specialty aperitifs to start
    Shari A.

    Superb. This neighborhood place is a total gem.... the most sophisticated food served in a rustic sort of minimalist chic atmosphere with service that is simply perfect. We ventured here based on our research of the foodie sites for Montreal and they were spot on. The beauty of the tasting options is that each person can select a different number of courses so for example, I had a 3 course menu that dovetailed nicely with my husband's 5 courses and I was able to taste his dishes. They also permitted us to do one wine pairing and they split each pour between two glasses which is just so nice for people like us who really enjoy pairings but cannot consume so much wine in one sitting. They prepare daily cocktail specials which are recited by the servers and our choices were sublime. Herbaceous, gorgeous, and they went down so easy! You can really tell that the entire staff is a family affair with each person helping the other out and the dishes are described and delivered on point by a different person for each course. Somehow it doesn't feel disjointed but rather completely in sync. The female owner is the front of the house and the male owner is in the kitchen. He also does all of his own desserts. The menu highlights vegetables like I've never seen done. This makes it perfect for any type of eater. We had one fish dish which was lovely, but the vegetable are the real stars here. The presentation is also art on a plate. The tasting comes with dessert and even after all of that, they are able to convince you to order the signature ile flottante which is changed up often with the chefs own twist. Outstanding. I can't wait to come back the next time we are in town. It's a bummer we are 5 hours away or I would be a regular here! Don't miss this superstar.

    Laura R.

    A true gastronomic experience! My husband and I each partook in the 7 course tasting menu, and we were wowed by the nuanced flavours and inventive dishes. Each dish is a surprise, as nothing is posted on the menu. It adds to the charm and mystique. The restaurant is located almost adjacent to the famous St Viateur bagel shop, and it's in a historic stretch of the city. It's an apt spot for them, as they are a stronghold in the food making business, along with their famous neighbors. All dishes are immaculately presented and visually stunning, and the staff do a great job of explaining each dish. Come here to be pampered by a tantalizing array of savory dishes. We had an amuse bouche, eggplant terrine, endive salad, lentil dish, walleye fish, maple syrup dessert (quite outstanding!), French toast and the Île Flottante dessert.

    Mushroom chocolate cake with vanilla and mushroom ice cream
    Roberta D.

    AMAZING! My boyfriend and I went to Ile Flottante for our Thanksgiving dinner this year. I made the reservation ahead of time over open table and had to confirm a few days before arriving to the area. When we arrived to the restaurant they had cute name placards set up for all of the premade reservations. We were greeted by the friendly wait staff and seated. The space was wonderful - all black walls from ceiling to the floor, with black tables. This helped to ensure that guests attention was paid to the most important part of the experience - the food. We opeted for the 5 course tasting menu with the wine pairing. It was absolutely spectacular. The wines paired nicely with the menu. The menu was mostly vegetarian. There was a few meat items - smoked trout in the first meal and duck in the 4th dish. Overall, the dishes were super flavorful. The wait staff was friendly and nice. Absolutely would recommend to anyone looking to have a high end meal in the Montreal area!

    Vincent T.

    If your reservation at 6pm, DO NOT arrive earlier in winter as they will not let you in to accommodate a freezing -30celsius (we arrived at 5:53pm). We took the 5 courses dinner. Only one meat course. All of which are on the light side so you might be left (very) hungry at the end of the night.

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    3 years ago

    The most amazing tasting menu with stunning wine pairing and such a personal waitstaff!

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    3 years ago

    Très bon. On y découvre des nouvelles saveurs. Sommelier sur place et ambiance cozy dans un quartier hip.

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    Île Flottante Reviews in Other Languages

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    Leméac

    Leméac

    4.2
    (324 reviews)
    0.6 km
    $$$

    I wanted one more really good meal before I left Montreal, and this place delivered. I was craving…read moresteak, so I got the filet mignon. Delicious. Then I'd never had sticky toffee pudding before, so I had that for dessert. Yummy! My waitress was fantastic! Even though I was alone, she made me feel welcome, and even though there was a lot of French going on in the restaurant, we spoke English together easily. It's in a very nice neighborhood, Outremont, which is worth walking around in. My only complaint would be because they have a lovely open air terrace, I was being bugged by bugs. Flies and maybe gnats. I know there's nothing much they can do about it, but still. I imagine in winter, this wouldn't be a problem.

    What a lovely ambiance! Inside and out- we ate on the terrace and there were flowers and privacy…read morefrom street, a gentle breeze. Our waiter Alex, was top notch!! Attentive, friendly with a good sense of humor. The food was delicious (my French husband is a foodie - tough customer. And I am a 'plain Jane', picky-ish eater and we both found many options on the menu. The gazpacho (a little spicy in a good way) and small green salad were both perfectly seasoned, and my husband was happy with his fish soup and magret de canard. So many good options on the dessert menu- we shared the profiteroles which had in-house made vanilla ice cream and and chocolate sauce - delicious! There were REGIONAL options. It's in a good area of town called Outremont- a nice area to walk around with some good shopping- upscale stores

    Photos
    Indoor atmosphere
    Indoor atmosphere
    Crème brûlée
    Crème brûlée
    Patio

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    Patio
    Les Oiseaux de Passage

    Les Oiseaux de Passage

    4.4
    (7 reviews)
    2.1 km

    Quaint and unassuming neighborhood place that is hiding a highly sophisticated dining experience…read more The food was remarkable and on par with some of the better spots I've eaten lately. Did the 5 course chef's tasting menu with wine pairing --which is an incredible value for the money--and it was such an unexpectedly wonderful surprise. Inventive ingredient pairings, artful presentation, and a genuine commitment to the details. The service gets 5 stars as well, knowledgeable, attentive in just the right way. I am absolutely coming back.

    This is the first time we are at a BYOW restaurant. It's…read morebrilliant! There is no corking fee and there are 2 liquor stores within walking distance. This restaurant is so cute, we feel like we are in a romcom movie. Looks like it's family run restaurant with a lot of love. Service is very friendly. You sit down they set up your wine and brought you Handmade bread with Parmesan & Cumin (house made) Quail egg cassolette with roasted tomatoes and spinach, Mornay sauce, and Parmesan crumble Reminded you of Cheez it / goldfish / white cheddar /topping Good texture combo. Crunchy cheesy cracker on top with gooey spinach quail egg mornay sauce Cream of cauliflower, confit lemon oil, and shallots *Very smooth. Taste a bit tapioca Very good piping hot! with smokey paprika and touch of Lemon zest Salmon Linguini with onion and parmigiano cream *Cheesy but light and spring-y Again the lemon zest at work. Love it Braised lamb shank, red wine lamb glaze, sautéed potatoes, and Nantaises carrots. *Nice seasoning that respects the ingredients Potato perfectly cooked with crispy edges. Everything you ate here reminded you or some past memories that are very familiar.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Les Oiseaux de Passage
    Les Oiseaux de Passage

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    Place Carmin

    Place Carmin

    4.6
    (77 reviews)
    4.4 km

    Came here for a wedding dinner and really enjoyed the ambiance. The venue was beautiful, the…read moreatmosphere was great. Unfortunately, the food did not live up to the same standard. I chose the seafood entrée, which turned out to be a mistake. After speaking with several others who ordered the same dish, it seemed that we all had a similar experience. The clams and mussels did not taste particularly fresh, and some even contained sand. I wish I had ordered the duck instead, as it appeared to be a much better choice. I ended up eating not much of my main course because of the seafood quality.

    This place was so good! It wasn't too busy on a Saturday night on race week. Atmosphere was high…read moreend but not in a stuffy way. Service was prompt and attentive. Our waitresses recommendations were fire. We enjoyed: Complementary bread: it was soft on inside and appropriately crunchy but not overly so on the outside. Plus two huge pieces cut into 4 pieces individually. Beef tartare: at 20 cad it was a little pricy for how much you got but the taste was great and I'm a fan of comte cheese. Plus it didn't have capers which imo overwhelms tartares. Duck with carrot: as a Chinese person I've had my share of duck but this might be the best duck I've ever had in my life. The texture and cook on it was awesome! First it came with three pieces of breast. It was the perfect cook, not over like most of the places I've had duck. Then the leg had the perfect crispy fatty skin to meat ratio. Yum yum this is a can't miss dish here Burger: husband got this. I took a bite. It had a nice smoke to it and was perfectly medium rare. I was too distracted by my duck to analyze it further. Raspberry jelly for dessert: as the waitress had mentioned, it was light and a perfect sweet but tart bite. Was great! Would come here again, we had l'express earlier in this trip and place carmin blows that place out of the water.

    Photos
    Chicken in a fur coat at Place Carmin restaurant in Montreal
    Chicken in a fur coat at Place Carmin restaurant in Montreal
    Crime brûlée ok
    Crime brûlée ok
    Choux fleur rôtis, œuf au plat amandes et truffe

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    Choux fleur rôtis, œuf au plat amandes et truffe
    Pégase

    Pégase

    4.6
    (86 reviews)
    2.2 km
    $$$

    This was our second time at Le Pegase, and once again, it completely blew us away. From the moment…read morewe sat down, the experience was flawless--the duck liver pâté served with fresh bread might be the most delicious thing I've ever had. It arrives right when you sit, and immediately sets the tone for the meal. Next came the choice of soup or salad, and honestly, both were perfection. I could have bathed in my soup it was that good. For my appetizer, I had the black pudding croquettes with a pear sauce that was simply divine, and for the main, the bison flank steak was cooked beautifully--tender, flavorful, and perfectly seasoned. My partner's meal was equally special, with each dish showing the same level of care and precision. We went to Joe Beef the very next night, and while it has a reputation, Le Pegase absolutely blew it out of the water. The vibe is cozy, homey, and welcoming--just the right balance of warmth and refinement. Every detail, from the food to the service to the atmosphere, makes this place a must-visit. I cannot recommend it enough. Le Pegase doesn't just meet expectations--it exceeds them in every way.

    BEST "BYOB" FRENCH BISTRO DURING RECENT TRIP…read more This is the best dining experience in our recent Montreal trip. I'm glad we made reservation since the place was quite packed when we arrived. To be honest, our first impression wasn't too great. We were seated in their main indoor dining area which was a bit too warm. We asked if we can be moved to their fully covered / heated patio area, but unfortunately the restaurant was full. Fast forward 15 minutes, we have placed our order and were enjoying our bottle of wine and a basket of bread. Our server came over and offered to move us to the patio area since a table had opened up. We were pleasantly surprised because (1) we didn't ask again and (2) most restaurants wouldn't change tables once customers started eating/drinking. The restaurant setting is unpretentious with a casual and cozy vibes. The staff are so friendly that we feel like having a family dinner! They offer a pre-fixe menu in which we thoroughly enjoyed! For appetizers, the escargot dish gave us a pleasant surprise. They wrapped the escargots and blue cheese sauce in a thin crispy crust! It's hard to describe, but it's sort of like having an escargot "crepe"! The few main courses we chose were excellent, and the rack of lamb was probably our favorite - tender, juicy, and perfectly cooked. As for dessert, their creme brulee was one of the best I've had - creamy custard topped with a perfect, crisp caramel top. I'd highly recommend this place, and will certainly visit again when I'm in town next time!

    Photos
    Pégase
    Tuna, mango, coconut tataki
    Tuna, mango, coconut tataki
    Pégase

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    Modavie

    Modavie

    4.2
    (1.1k reviews)
    4.2 km
    $$$

    Great service Great food…read moreLovely live music Perfect place in old Montreal to eat Best Paul

    After doing a good amount of research and comparing multiple spots, I decided to book Modavie for…read moreone of the dinners during my brother's bachelor party weekend. I chose this place for several reasons - they were easily able to accommodate our party of 12 (there was no back and forth to book something special), the menu looked like it would appeal to different palates, and offered live music which I thought would be a nice addition to the evening. That being said, I made plans to dine here for our second (and last) dinner of the weekend. Modavie sits in Old Montreal, which worked out since we didn't really spend any time in that area over the weekend so it was good to explore before and after our meal. The restaurant is quite large - it spans two floors and has multiple dining rooms. Decor is modern-ish with semi-exposed fixtures and a dark color scheme. When booking, I was asked whether I wanted to sit in a room that had live music or not - I thought that would bring a fun element to the dinner so chose a table near the music. The menu is described as being French, though I would say there are also touches of other areas of Europe. Lamb is their specialty, and is in several of their dishes - they even have a section solely dedicated to it. Since we were such a large group, I decided to order the apps for the table: fried calamari, escargot, charcuterie boards, and braised lamb poutine. Everything was good, with the highlight for me being the poutine. I'll be honest I was kinda poutined out after sampling so many throughout the weekend, but this was still enjoyable which says something about the quality. In addition to the lamb section, they had a variety of pastas and other mains to choose from. I decided to get the Basque chicken which was served with a piperade and potatoes. This was really good - the chicken was juicy and the piperade added great layers of flavor and texture. Most of us were full so we bypassed dessert. While the food was good, I wouldn't say it was 5-star worthy - but you won't get a bad meal here; the dishes are solid. What was the most memorable aspect of the evening for me, though, was the service. Iman was outstanding - she made sure we were taken care of the entire evening, was on top of all of our orders, and was really the epitome of professionalism and hospitality. She made the experience for me. Overall, we had a great time at Modavie - the solid food, cool setting, and killer service make this a standout in Old Montreal.

    Photos
    Beautiful interior...mood lighting was 11/10
    Beautiful interior...mood lighting was 11/10
    Onion Soup
    Onion Soup
    Basquaise Chicken

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    Basquaise Chicken

    Île Flottante - french - Updated August 2026

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